Every few weeks, I get an email from someone asking if I can get them a job at their favorite tech company. Sometimes I can get this process started for them, sometimes I can’t, but either way, the process of getting a job is about far more than just submitting your resume. So, here it is: getting a job in ten not-always-easy steps. I’m going to write about each one of these in more detail.

Build Raw Skills Think a few years out about what position you’d like. What do you need to do to get there?

Prepare a *good* resume Great experience isn’t enough. You need to show this in your resume. Remember – a resume is not a timeline of everything you’ve done; it’s a proof of your skills.

Picking the right companies To list just a few things to think about: company size, company culture, the role of someone in your position, how long the company has been around, what the company actually does, growth of the company, location, etc.

Prepare a cover letter This is a company’s first introduction to you, so make it perfect.

Apply! Getting your foot in the door at a company isn’t always easy, but there are a few tricks I’ve learned...

Preparing for the interview Know what to expect and prepare accordingly. If you’re reading CareerCup, you’re probably off to a great start.

Interview This is what it all comes down, and there’s a lot you can do to shape the outcome.

Negotiate You can negotiate (almost) any offer – even if they say it’s "non-negotiable"

Make a decision If you have several offers, you’re in a great spot. How do you pick the one that’s right for you?

Accepting & Denying Accepting an offer is easy, but don’t forget – it’s important that you decline the offer the right way too.

Stay tuned – I’ll elaborate on each one of these in the upcoming weeks.